What’s All The Hype Surrounding Collagen?
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Whether you follow the latest trends in beauty or are more in tune with what’s new in gut health, likely you’ve heard about the importance of collagen. The benefits of this powerful protein are touted all over the place, but chances are that you might not really know what all the hype is about. Sure, you know collagen is important, but what really makes it so special and essential to health and beauty? Read on to find out what’s really behind all the hype surrounding collagen.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein found in bones, muscles, skin, tendons, and connective tissues. It provides structure and “holds the body together,” while also giving strength and elasticity to the skin. Collagen makes up the bulk of the protein in the human body and connects your cells to each other as a major supporting structure. When it comes to the skin, collagen helps with the growth of new cells, while its role deeper in the body is to provide protective coverings for your vital organs. As you age, the body’s natural collagen production declines, but that decline can also be increased by smoking and exposure to UV light. Less collagen production is what leads to wrinkles and weak joints, particularly after the age of 60.
Medical Uses
Collagen is used for all kinds of medical purposes including wound dressing, guided tissue regeneration, prosthetics, and the treatment of osteoarthritis. Collagen dressings can promote healing around a wound that isn’t responding to other treatment or that is suffering from necrotic tissues by providing “a platform for new tissues growth.” In guided tissue regeneration, collagen membranes are used to create a barrier that allows tissues to regenerate after procedures such as dental implants. For patients suffering from osteoarthritis, collagen supplements have been shown to reduce pain and improve joint function.
The Beauty Industry
Collagen is used in the cosmetic industry in both injections and fillers to decrease wrinkles and restore fullness to the skin. In addition to beautiful skin, collagen is also responsible for strong and healthy hair and nails. There are tons of topical creams and beauty products out there that claim to restore or increase collagen and give you more beautiful skin, hair, and nails. However, there is little evidence that the benefits of collagen can be achieved when it’s applied topically as collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. The best way to promote collagen production in the body and get the beauty benefits of this powerful protein is to maintain a healthy diet full of amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. You can also look into taking collagen supplements for maximum efficiency.
Gut Health
Collagen is super important for maintaining a healthy gut. According to a recent study, collagen promotes a healthy intestinal barrier which helps to absorb nutrients and block the absorption of harmful organisms. Collagen tightens the intestinal barrier, thus preventing disorders like leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease. Another study also found that people with inflammatory bowel disease were more likely to have lower levels of collagen, thus strengthening the connection between a healthy amount of collagen and a healthy gut.
Now that you understand the how important collagen is to a healthy and beautiful body, inside and out, doesn’t all that hype around it make a little more sense? That being said, it’s important to remember to be wary of beauty products that may be making false claims about how much collagen they can really introduce into your system. Instead of investing your money on high-priced creams and serums, focus on building a healthy diet full of proteins, vitamins, and healthy acids. To really prevent collagen loss, avoid smoking, reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, and wear sunscreen all year round to protect your skin from those damaging UV rays.
